Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-17
THE PRESIDENT "rUmBLEs.
He Admins His Error, but Would Do it if
he Could.

He Admins His Error, but Would Do it if
He Could.
WASHINGTON, June 16th.-The following
letter was sent to the Secretary OF War bv
the President to-day, in regard to the dis
position of the flags captured by the Union
forces during the late war;
l have to-day considered with more care than
when the subject was orally presented to me-
the action OF your Department directing letters
TO be addressed to Governors of all the States
Offering to return. if desired to the loyal States
of the Union the flags captured during the war
of the rebellion by the Confederate forces and
afterwards recovered by Government troops
and to the Confederate States the flags captured
by the Union forces, all of which for many
years have been packed in boxes and stored in
the cellar and attic of the War Department l
am of the opinion that the return of these flags
in the manner thus contemplated is not author
Ized by any existing law, nor justified as an
Executive act. | request, therefore that no
further steps be taken in the matter except to
examine and inventory these flags and ADOPT
proper measures for their prest ryation. ANY
direction as to the final disposition of them
Shall originate with Congress Yours, truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
MORE OF THE PRESIDENTS EXPLANATION.
WASHINGTON, June 16th.-The following
statement with regard to the Presidents
action concerning the proposed return of
battle flags was made at the White House
to night to a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press When the question was pro-
posed to the President by the Adiutant-
General, an important feature suggested
was to return to the loyal States the flags
which had been captured by the Confeder-
ates and retaken by our army at the time
of the collapse of the rebellion. They
with such Confederate flags as had been
captured from the enemy by our troops,
had, it was represented, for long time
tnr
away in boxes in the War Department. and
had been removed to the attic as a better
place for the safe-keeping and disposition
OF the flags, which seemed to be answering
no good purpose where they were, and the
consideration was represented to the Pres
ident that some of the flags had been re-
turned to loyal States upon their re-
quest in individual cases, and the rest. if
desired, might as we'll be returned
together. The return of the Confederate
flags, which were with the others in the
Department, was suggested. but there was
not the slightest thought of interfering in
any way with the captured flags now held
by any State. The right of the Depart
ment TO make these returns being cues
toned by the President, such right was dis
tinctly asserted and precedents alleged,
and thereupon his oral assent was given to
the proposed action. The matter was dis
missed from his mind until comment
thereupon within the last day or two
brought it again to his attention. when
upon personally examining the law and
considering the subject more carefully, he
satisfied himself that no disposition of
these flags could be made without Con-
gressional action. Whereupon, he di-
rected a SUSPENSION of operations bv the
letter made public this morning.